Albanians attack police stations with grenades B92

Albanians attack police stations with grenades
B92 - March 19, 2004

LIPLJAN -- Thursday – International peacekeeping troops are in heavy conflict with Albanian demonstrators in the town of Lipljan tonight.

Latest reports say that Albanians have thrown grenades at Kosovo Police Service stations in the town.

Lipljan municipal official Borivoje Vignjevic told B92 at about 8.00 p.m. that a large group of Albanian had been attempting for hours to set fire to the Vavadenje Monastery in the town’s centre.

“A large number of Finnish troops who were joined by Czech troops and special US army troops from Bosnia are around the church and trying in every possible ways to prevent the Albanians from getting closer to Lipljan.

“Unfortunately, right at the moment I can see thick smoke coming from Lipljan. Many houses have been set on fire, we don’t know the exact number.

“Some of the Serbs are still in various places around the town: we hope that they are alright and that their lives are not in danger.

“I can also tell you that some time ago a large group of Albanians began making their way from the direction of Toplicani towards Staro Gracko, but they turned back when the police and KFOR opened fire on them and then dispersed.

“The locals in Staro Gracko are very concerned, they are being provided with security by a large number of soldiers and police officers.

“A group of about a hundred elderly people, women and children from Lipljan have been given accommodation in the Vila camp; the Finnish troops there accepted them without any problems, they know the situation we are all in,” Vignjevic told B92.